Direct Support Professional Training

Information, including curriculum, for those Service Hubs that offer required training necessary for individuals to work in community care licensed facilities.

The Direct Support Professional
Training Program certifies individuals that are currently employed working with individuals with a developmental
disability living in licensed community care facilities.

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has
over 4,400 licensed community care facilities that serve people with developmental disabilities living in
licensed facilities. DDS implemented a two-year, 70-hour standardized
statewide competency-based training program. Training is mandatory
for employees and administrators who provide direct care in a
community care facility.

Four County Service Hubs provide the Direct Support Professional (DSP)
Training at no cost to enrollees. The 70 hours of training are
divided into two equal parts of 35 hours each to be completed
in successive years. In lieu of the training, a challenge test
may be taken for each of the 35 hour segments. Those who pass
the challenge test for either of the 35 hour training segments
will not be required to take that classroom segment. Training
and testing are based upon core competencies or skills necessary
for satisfactory Direct Support Professionals' job performance.

County Service HubsContact the County Service Hub Coordinator for specifics about the local training
program.